Author: julie

  • Recipe: Carrot Salad

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    julie
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    Carrots are the work of the devil’s boring brother-in-law who he hates getting stuck with at family parties.  As I child I didn’t like them in round slices (ok, I still don’t) and would cunningly hide squelchy carrot and parsnip mash under my cutlery.  Working in an old folks’ home as a student  involved weekends…

  • Recipe: Julie's Nettle Pesto

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    julie
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    Our favourite evil genius Julie is back, with a recipe that she promises will ‘give you the hair and bladder of Gwyneth Paltrow’. Argh! – Jean One of my children came in crying the other day after being stung by a nettle. This made me both sad and happy as I realized I’ve loads of…

  • Review: Farmer Brown’s Market and Eatery

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    julie
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    On Sunday I went for a festive lunch with some old work colleagues in Farmer Browns Market and Eatery in Ballsbridge. Classily, we were lured by the BYOB option (corkage €3 pp) but the food was fantastic. It’s cutesy and shabby chic and you can eat there or get take out. I’d advise booking as…

  • Recipe: Spicy duck pie with carrot and pea veloute

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    julie
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    More pie, please.  This one is called “Romany’s Lucky Ducky Pie” and is my favourite recipe is from the Pieminister Cookbook by Tristan Hogg and Jon Simon. If you have sampled their wares, or just like a good pie, I highly recommend it. The recipes are quite tricky, but just clear the decks, open a…

  • Recipe: Basic chicken and mushroom pie

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    julie
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    It”s getting nippy out, so here”s another comfort dish: pie. Mmmm… pie pants. You”ll need the extra fat for the winter. This dish is homelier than Kirstie Alsopp’s knitted scones. It doesn’t have any cream so won’t put your stomach in a coma. Feel free to substitute broccoli or ham for the mushrooms. You can…

  • Solved! The mystery of Lidl and Aldi’s best before dates

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    julie
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    On the whole, Lidl and Aldi have great value fruit and veg. Lidl especially carries the more unusual produce like celeriac and fennel. However, it used to bug me when I’d take home a punnet of cherry tomatoes to find the bottom layer all fusty or I”d discover that a courgette was rotting when I…

  • Recipe: Chorizo and sausage casserole

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    julie
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    Hurray! It”s another miserable day. But the good news is that you should eat this casserole and it might make you feel nice and warm. Yes, winter is clearly back, but as the dark days close in over the next few weeks, I”ll bring you not one but several delicious comfort food recipes. The only…

  • Recipe: Moroccan couscous

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    julie
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    This is a good accompaniment to barbecued meat, tagines, or a chicken that you’ve cut up and grilled. Most of these ingredients will be resident in your kitchen. Take them out, dust them off and lash them in. Ingredients: Pine nuts 1 or 2 onions (chopped) Handful of dried apricots (chopped) Handful of sultanas (chopped)…

  • Jam Making: A Guide

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    julie
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    If you’ve never made jam you should give it a go. I’m not going to lie and say it’s stress-free as it involves boiling hot liquid, glass and uncertainty, but with the right preparation it’s fine. The results are always something to be proud of and even the ones that won’t set are delicious in…

  • Courgette and Almond Soup

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    julie
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    Oh no! The parson’s coming to lunch. You have to make something tasty yet modestly impressive and still have enough time to throw on your tea-dress. And find out what a parson is. This soup is just the trick. It’s pretty but still comfort food and everyone from kids to indigestion-ridden granddads love it. Courgettes…